Portable fuel container emissions control

Abstract

An emissions device for use with a container assembly with a vent opening is provided. The emissions device includes a housing configured to be mounted to the container. The housing includes a backing plate that has at least one opening. A membrane is supported by the backing plate and extends over the opening. The membrane is configured to allow passage of vapor and prevent passage of liquid. A filter is located within the housing such that vapor that passes from the at least one opening through the membrane then passes through the filter. At least one spring is positioned within the housing and is configured to compress the filter.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An emissions device for use with a container that has a vent opening, the emissions device comprising:
 a housing configured to be mounted entirely inside of the container around the vent opening, wherein the housing includes a backing plate that has at least one opening; 
 a membrane supported by the backing plate and extending over said at least one opening, wherein the membrane is configured to allow passage of fuel vapor and prevent passage of liquid fuel; 
 a filter located within the housing such that fuel vapor passing from said at least one opening through the membrane then passes through the filter; 
 at least one spring positioned within the housing; 
 a compression plate positioned between said at least one spring and the filter and having a width substantially equal to a width of the filter; 
 wherein said at least one spring presses against the compression plate such that 
 the compression plate compresses a depth of the filter. 
 
     
     
       2. The emissions device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a filter cover overlaying the filter and having a width substantially equal to a width of the filter; 
 wherein the compression plate overlays the filter cover and is positioned between the filter cover and said at least one spring; and 
 wherein the filter cover and the compression plate have at least partially aligned openings that allow fuel vapor to pass out of the filter through the at least partially aligned openings. 
 
     
     
       3. The emissions device of  claim 2 , wherein the filter cover and the compression plate overlay the entire filter so that fuel vapor venting out of the container through the vent opening of the container must pass through the at least partially aligned openings. 
     
     
       4. The emissions device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is a first filter, and further comprising:
 a second filter operatively connected to the backing plate so that the backing plate is between the second filter and the membrane, and the membrane is between the backing plate and the first filter. 
 
     
     
       5. The emissions device of  claim 4 , wherein the second filter is coarser than the first filter. 
     
     
       6. The emissions device of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is configured to adsorb hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       7. A container assembly comprising:
 a container for liquid fuel that has a vent opening; 
 a housing configured to be mounted to the container, wherein the housing includes a backing plate that defines at least one opening; 
 a membrane supported by the backing plate and extending over said at least one opening, wherein the membrane is configured to allow passage of fuel vapor and prevent passage of liquid fuel; 
 a first filter located within the housing such that fuel vapor passes from the container through said at least one opening in the backing plate, through the membrane, and through the first filter to the vent opening; 
 a second filter abutting the backing plate and spanning directly over said at least one opening of the backing plate so that the backing plate is between the second filter and the membrane, and the membrane is between the backing plate and the first filter; 
 a compression plate; 
 a first compression spring positioned within the housing and configured to compress the compression plate toward the backing plate to compress the first filter against the membrane and the membrane against the backing plate; and 
 an additional compression spring abutting the container and configured to act against the first compression spring to assist in compressing the first filter. 
 
     
     
       8. The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the housing is integrally formed with the container. 
     
     
       9. The container assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a filter cover overlaying the first filter; 
 wherein the compression plate overlays the filter cover between the filter cover and the first compression spring; and 
 wherein the filter cover and the compression plate have at least partially aligned openings that allow fuel vapor to pass out of the first filter through the at least partially aligned openings. 
 
     
     
       10. The container assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the filter cover and the compression plate overlay the entire first filter so that fuel vapor passing out of the container through the vent opening first passes through the at least partially aligned openings. 
     
     
       11. The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second filter is coarser than the first filter. 
     
     
       12. The container assembly of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a vacuum relief valve positioned in the housing between the vent opening and the first filter; wherein the vacuum relief valve is configured to open to permit air to enter the container by passing through the first filter and the membrane to said at least one opening in the backing plate. 
 
     
     
       13. The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first filter is configured to adsorb hydrocarbons. 
     
     
       14. The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the housing is mounted internally in the container. 
     
     
       15. The container assembly of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a pressure relief valve mounted externally to the container at the vent opening. 
 
     
     
       16. A container assembly comprising:
 a container with a vent opening; 
 a housing mounted entirely inside of the container around the vent opening, wherein the housing includes a substantially flat backing plate that defines at least one opening; 
 a substantially flat membrane abutting the backing plate and extending over said at least one opening, wherein the membrane is configured to allow passage of fuel vapor and prevent passage of liquid fuel from the container; 
 a first filter located within the housing against the membrane such that fuel vapor passes from the container through said at least one opening in the backing plate, through the membrane, and through the first filter to the vent opening; 
 a substantially flat second filter abutting the backing plate and spanning directly over said at least one opening of the backing plate; 
 a compression plate; 
 a first compression spring positioned within the housing and configured to compress the compression plate toward the backing plate to compress the first filter against the membrane and the membrane against the backing plate; and 
 an additional compression spring abutting the container and configured to act against the first compression spring to assist in compressing the first filter. 
 
     
     
       17. The container assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a vacuum relief valve supported within the housing between the vent opening and the compression plate and configured to open to permit air to enter the container by passing through the vent opening, the filter, and the membrane to said at least one opening in the backing plate. 
 
     
     
       18. The container assembly of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a filter cover overlaying the first filter and pressed by the compression plate against the first filter; and 
 wherein the filter cover and the compression plate have at least partially aligned openings that allow fuel vapor to pass out of the first filter through the at least partially aligned openings. 
 
     
     
       19. A container assembly comprising:
 a container with a vent opening; 
 a housing mounted entirely inside of the container around the vent opening, wherein the housing includes a substantially flat backing plate that defines at least one opening; 
 a substantially flat membrane abutting the backing plate and extending over said at least one opening, wherein the membrane is configured to allow passage of fuel vapor and prevent passage of liquid fuel from the container; 
 a first filter located within the housing against the membrane such that fuel vapor passes from the container through said at least one opening in the backing plate, through the membrane, and through the first filter to the vent opening; 
 a substantially flat second filter abutting the backing plate and spanning directly over said at least one opening of the backing plate; 
 a compression plate; 
 a first compression spring positioned within the housing and configured to compress the compression plate toward the backing plate to compress the first filter against the membrane and the membrane against the backing plate; and 
 a vacuum relief valve supported within the housing between the vent opening and the compression plate and configured to open to permit air to enter the container by passing through the vent opening, the filter, and the membrane to said at least one opening in the backing plate. 
 
     
     
       20. The container assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a filter cover overlaying the first filter and pressed by the compression plate against the first filter; and 
 wherein the filter cover and the compression plate have at least partially aligned openings that allow fuel vapor to pass out of the first filter through the at least partially aligned openings.